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- (No Model.)

A. POULSON & H. M. SCHNEIDER.

THILL COUPLING.

No. 366,684. Patented Ju1y 19, 1887.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ANDRE\V POULSON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AND HARRY M. SCHNEIDER, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,684, dated July 19, 1887.

Application filed April530,1887.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, ANDREW PoULsoN, of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis, State of Missouri, and HARRY M. SCHNEIDER, of

the city of \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thill-Couplings, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

Our invention consists of a thill-eoupling which may be adjusted or connected in position in a firm and reliable manner without the necessity of bolts, nuts, ,or similar fastenings.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a thill-eoupling embodying ourinvention. Fig.

2 represents a perspective view of the coupling in open condition, and the shaft to which it is applied.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre- 2o spending parts in the two figures.

Referring to the drawings, A represents an axle, and B the box of a wheel fitted thereon. 0 represents jaws of semi-cylindrical form hinged to each other, each jaw havingits end continued, constituting a shank, C, of semieylindrical form, the shanks abutting against each other when the jaws are closed, one of said shanks 0 being connected or formed with the thill-iron G.

D represents a. sleeve which is freely fitted on the iron G, and may be moved over the shanks C, so as to encircle the same. A portion of said sleeve is weighted, as at D, and the inner face of said portion has a groove, D, which extends parallel with the iron G.

Secured to or formed with iron G is a tongue, E, which extends parallel with the groove D and is adapted to receive the same, as seen in Fig. 2.

To the iron G at the front end of the tongue E is a screw-pin or otherstop, E, for limiting the forward motion of the sleeve.

The jaws embrace the axle between the shoulders or collars A A thereon, and the sides of the upper jaw are formed with flanges F, which overhang said collars and serve as a guard for preventing dust and dirt entering between the jaws and axle.

The operation is as follows: \Vhen the parts are in position, as seen in Fig. 2, the coup Serial No. 235,510. (No model.)

ling may be applied to the axle. The jaws are fitted to the axle and closed thereon between the collars A. The sleeve D is now moved along the tongueE and over the shanks D and then rotated, whereby the groove D leaves said tongue. Owing to the gravity of the sleeve, the portion D of the same is now below, whereby automatic return of the sleeve to its normal position is prevented. As the sleeve embraces the two shanks D, it prevents opening of the jaws, whereby the latter are reliably held connected with the axle. The forward end of the sleeve engages with the rear end of the tongue, and thus sliding motion of the sleeve toward the front is prevented, the sleeve being thus locked in position, all as will be seen in Fig. 1.

In order to remove the coupling, the sleeve is rotated so that the weighted part is above. This places the groove D in line with the tongue E, and the sleeve is then moved forward, whereby it clears the shanks G. The jaws O are then opened and disengaged from the axle, as will be seen in Fig. 2.

It will be seen when the coupler is in use 7 there will be no rattling of theparts, and washers are dispensed with.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 8o 1. A thill-coupling having embracing-jaws and a gravitating sleeve for locking said jaws, substantially as described.

2. A thill-iron having a rotatable sleeve supported thereon and provided with atongue, said sleeve having a groove on its face and made weighted, so as to retain its position on the ends of the coupling-jaws by gravity, said parts being combined substantially as described.

3. Jaws formed with shanks on their ends,

a rotatable and weighted sleeve for embracing said shanks, a thill-iron connected with one of the jaws, and a tongue on said iron, combined substantially as described, the sleeve having a groove which receives said tongue, and the latter being adapted to lock the sleeve when it embraces the shanks or ends of the jaw, as stated.

4. A thill-coupling having jaws which emroo brace theaxle between shoulders thereon, tongue and a stop, and'the gravitysleeve D, said jaws being provided with flanges F, which all substantially as described. overhang said shoulders, substantially as de- ANDREW POULSON.

scribed. V HARRY M. SCHNEIDER. 5. 5. A thin-coupling consisling of hinged Witnesses;

jaws, each having a shank, a thin-iron con THos. L. TAYLOR,

nected to one of said shanks and having a H. (3. MERRILL. 

